Drum



Nov. 2, 1965 R. c. KESTER, JR 3,215,021

DRUM

Filed July 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l 56 f Q 156 I 9 #8 F l INVENTOR.

RALPH C. KESTER. JR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 R. c:. KESTER, JR 3,215,021

DRUM

Filed July 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH C. KESTER. JR.

BY 744M ATTORNEY I Nov. 2, 1965 R. C. KESTER, JR

DRUM

Filed July 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

RALPH C. KESTER. JR. BY

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,215,021 DRUM Ralph C. Kester, Jr., 714 32nd St., South Bend, Ind. Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,050 9 Claims. (Cl. 84411) The present invention relates to drums, and more particularly to a variable sound drum.

In the past, various attempts have been made to vary the sound, tone or pitch of drums, usually by direct action involving the drum head. These devices and various drum constructions operating on the head of the drum almost invariably resulted in a deadening sound or in unpleasant tone quality. Further, these prior attempts to vary the sound have also frequently been difficult to control to obtain the various desired sound effects, and hence have been used only to a limited extent. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a drum having a sound-varying construction which does not act directly on the head of the drum and which is infinitely variable over a wide range to give the tone and pitch for three basic drum sound styles, including particularly dance style, concert style and marching style.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum so constructed and arranged that the drums sound can be accurately controlled and varied over a relatively wide range to produce the deeper, lower-pitched sounds, and progressively changed to produce shallower, higherpit'c'hed sounds without interrupting the playing or inter fering with the normal use and sound of the drum in any one of the selected positions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a drum incorporating a construction and mechanism for varying the sound, which can be operated easily and effectively by simple manipulations of the mechanism by the drummer throughout normal playing of the drum and other instruments.

A further object is to provide a relatively simple, easily controlled variable sound drum which can readily be adapted to various styles of playing, and which can be effectively played either as a variable sound drum or as a fixed or single-sound drum without making any changes in the drum or any substantial adjustments thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for operating the foregoing variable sound drum, which is so constructed and arranged that it will readily form a part of the drum ensemble and which can be easily operated by the drummer with the use of a treadle or the like.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein the present invention is shown in detail, consisting broadly of a drum having two heads arranged in their conventional relationship to one another, each being supported by a shell hinged to the other shell by any suitable pivot means whereby the two shells and corresponding heads are adjusted angularly to one another from a position parallel to one another through various angular positions to a position at right angles to one another. The invention also includes the mechanism for infinitely varying the position of the drum heads angularly to one another throughout the full range without interrupting the playing of the drum. The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the present variable sound drum, support and operating mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the present variable sound drum and a fragmentary elevational and cross sectional view of the support or stand therefor, the section being taken on line 22 of FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the drum operating mechanism and drum support or stand on which the mechanism is mounted.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates generally the present variable sound drum, 12 the stand or support for the drum, and 14 the mechanism for Operating the drum to obtain the variations in sound. While a snare drum is illustrated in the drawings embodying the present invention, the invention may be embodied in the various other types of drums, and the mechanism for operating either the variable sound drum shown in the drawings or the embodiments thereof in the other types of drums may be changed or modified to satisfy requirements.

The present drum 10 consists of an upper section 20, and a lower section 22 connected to the upper section by a hinge or pivot member 24, the two sections 20 and 22 normally being substantially the same in construction, size and design. However, various sound effects from one drum to another can be obtained by providing sections of different construction. For the purpose of the present description, the two sections will be considered as the same except for minor modifications mentioned hereinafter; consequently, only one of the drum sections will be described in detail with corresponding numerals, with primes, being applied to the other drum section. Section 20 consists of a shell 30, preferably of metal formed into an annular shape and having an inturned shoulder or flange 32 at its upper edge, and a reinforcing band 34 at its lower edge. The flange is preferably formed integrally with the upper edge of the shell and is provided with an inwardly extending lip 36. The band 34 is secured to the inner surface of the shell by a plurality of screws or rivets 38 spaced around the band. The head 40 of the drum, which may be of any conventional or suitable material, extends over the entire top of the shell over flange 32 and downwardly on the outside surface of the shell and is secured to a ring 42 at the lower edge 44 thereof. The ring slips over the downwardly extending margin of the head and is held in various adjusted positions by a plurality of tension rods 46 secured at their upper ends to lugs 48 on the ring and secured at their lower ends to the inner or lower edge of the shell by rivets 50 extending through the lower ends of the rods, the shell and the band 34. The tensioning rods have upper and lower sections-52 and 54 connected to one another by threaded portion 56 integrally secured to upper portion 52. Upon the rotation of head 58 of upper portion 52, the threaded portion screws inwardly or outwardly in the lower portion 54, thereby increasing or decreasing the tension on the drum head by moving ring 42 downwardly or upwardly along the external surface of shell 30.

It is seen by the foregoing construction that sections 20 and 22 are adapted to pivot angularly toward and away from one another on hinge 24 and that in the completely closed position, i.e. with the adjacent edges of the two sections in contact with one another, the drum heads 40 and 40' are parallel to one another. The two sections may be locked together by latch 60, and when in that position, the drum plays as any conventional or standard drum. The lock consists of a bifurcated stem 62 secured to the lower edge of shell 30 by a plurality of rivets 64, and a clamping portion 66 secured to section 22 by a rivet 68 and screw 70, which engages member '72. Upon being tightened by the hand screw 70, member 72 clamps stem 62 in locked position.

The drum is supported by a stand 12 consisting of two vertical arms and 82 and a horizontal member 84 joined to the bottom of the two arms and supported at its center on a tripod 85 having an extensible, adjustable center post 86 and three adjustable legs 88, 90 and 92 secured to the lower end of the post. Member 84 is adjustably secured to the upper end of the post by a hand screw 94 extending downwardly through said member into the upper end of the post, as illustrated in FIGURE 2 The upper drum section 2 is adjustably and rigidly supported on the two arms 80 and 82 by adjustment means 96 and 98 extending through the respective arms and connecting to fixtures 99 and 100 on opposite sides of shell 30 of section 20. The angular position of section 20 may be adjusted by loosening adjustment means 96 and 98 and placing the section in any'desired position and then retightening both adjustment means.

The lower drum section 22 is pivotally or movably supported in the stand by a lever 110 pivotally mounted at each end by pins 112 and 114, respectively, so that the lever can pivot upwardly and downwardly, carrying with it the lower drum section to any adjusted position. The main portion 116 is connected to and supported .by arms 118 and 120 on which pins 112 and 114, respectively, are mounted, and is controlled, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, by a foot treadle 122 consisting of a pedal 124 pivoted at its lower end on a hinge 126 to a base 128. The upper end of the pedal is connected by a rod 130 to a push-pull cable 132, the lower end of which is connected to the rod and the upper end of which is connected to an extension 134 of arm 120. It is Seen that as the treadle is pressed downwardly, the push-pull cable moves extension 134 of arm 120 downwardly, thus moving main portion 116 upwardly, and thereby moving drum section 22 toward closed position.

In the operation of the present variable sound drum in the embodiment shown in the drawings, moving the pedal 124 downwardly raises main portion 116, of lever 110 upwardly, thereby moving the lower section of the drum toward closed position, thus obtaining a shallower sound and a higher pitch effect. Releasing the pedal permits the main portion 116 of lever 110 to move downwardly, thereby permitting the lower section 22 to pivot downwardly on hinge 24, thus giving a deeper sound and lower pitch effect. Through the use of the pedal, the lower section 22 can be raised and lowered to the position to obtain any desired sound effect, and on releasing the pedal, the lower section will remain in the desired position. Since the main concept of the present invention is the split shell, or dual shells, hinged or pivoted on one side to give various angular positions between the two heads 40 and 40', it is apparent that various types of operating mechanisms can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. However, the particular stand and support mechahism shown in the drawings has certain advantages over and above the mere operation of the drum, in that the upper shell is supported merely by the two adjustment means 96 and 98 rather than the tripod contacts on most stands, thereby permitting the drum to have more effective resonance characteristics. e

' When the drum is used for marching, the two sections may be locked into various open and angular positions to give the desired shallower, higher-pitched effects and any suitable mechanism whereby the two sections may be angularly varied to one another may be used if desired. The present drum may be used with any suitable drum marching support, such as that disclosed in my US. Patent No. 3,021,744. Various types of standard attachments may be used on the drum, such as a snare, which is shown only schematically at numeral 140, having adjustment means 142 secured on the side of the lower section for tensioning and i'eleasing the snare against the lower surface of head 40'. The ring 42 is preferably provided with a flange 144 which on unit 40 provides a shoulder for resting on lever 110, as well as providing a member which the drummer can use to produce special sound effects. An attachment 146 is shown mounted on the inner side of shell 30, which is used by some drummers to produce various sound effects.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, each section having a shell, a head on each shell with a hoop around the periphery thereof, and a plurality of tensioning means on each shell for the respective head secured at one end to said hoop and the other end to the respective shell, a hinge means connecting said shells with the heads thereof positioned away from one another, a latch means for locking said shells in closed position, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means on said arms for pivotally engaging one of said sections at points diametrically opposite to one another and at ninety degrees from said hinge means, a lever supported by' both of said arms for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section, a frame for supporting said arms, a treadle, and a push-pull cable connecting said treadle with said lever for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section.

2. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, each section having a shell, a head on each shell with a hoop around the periphery, and a plurality of tensioning means on each shell for the respective head secured at one end to said hoop and at the other end to the respective shell, a hinge means connecting said shells with the heads thereof positioned away from one another, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means on said arms for pivotally engaging one of said sections at points diametrically opposite to one another and at ninety degrees from said hinge means, a lever supported by both of said arms for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section, a frame for supporting said arms, a treadle, and a push-pull cable connecting said treadle with said lever for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section.

3. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, each section having a shell, a head on each shell with a hoop around the periphery, and a tensioning means on each shell for the respective head secured at one end to said hoop and at the other end to the respective shell, a hinge means connecting said shells with the heads thereof positioned away from one another, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means on said anns for pivotally engaging one of said sections at points diametrically opposite to one another and at ninety degrees from said hinge means, a lever supported by one of said arms for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section, a frame for supporting said arms, a treadle, and a means connecting said treadle with said lever for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section.

4. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, each section having a shell and a head on each shell, a hinge means connecting said shells with the heads thereof positioned away from one another, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means for pivotally engaging one of said sections at points diametrically opposite to one another and at ninety degrees from said hinge means, a lever supported by one of said arms for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section, a frame for supporting said arms, a treadle, and a means connecting said treadle with said lever for moving said other sec-. tion angularly with respect to said one section.

'5. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, each section having a shell and a head on each shell, a hinge means connecting said shells, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means on said arms for pivotally engaging one of said sections, a frame for supporting said arms, and a means for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section and for holding said sections in various relative angular positions.

6. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections,

each section having a shell and a head on each shell, a hinge means connecting said shells with the heads thereof positioned away from one another, and a means for moving one section angularly with respect to the other section and for holding said sections in various relative angular positions.

7. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, a head on each section, a hinge means connecting said sections, arms on opposite sides of said sections, means on said arms for pivotally engaging one of said sections at points diametrically opposite to one another and at ninety degrees from said hinge means, a frame for supporting said arms, and a means for moving said other section angularly with respect to said one section.

8. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, a head on each section, a hinge means connecting said sections, and a means for moving one section angularly with respect to the other section and for holding said sections in various relative angular positions.

9. A variable sound drum, comprising two sections, a head on each section, a hinge means connecting said sections, and means for holding one section angularly with respect to the other section and for changing the angularity of one section with respect to the other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,175 7/09 Walberg 84412 FOREIGN PATENTS 604,891 5/60 Italy.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VARIABLE SOUND DRUM, COMPRISING TWO SECTIONS, EACH STATION HAVING A SHELL, A HEAD ON EACH SHELL WITH A HOOP AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, AND A PLURALITY OF TENSIONING MEANS ON EACH SHELL FOR THE RESPECTIVE HEAD SECURED TO ONE END TO SAID HOOP AND THE OTHER END TO THE RESPECTIVE SHELL, A HING MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHELLS WITH THE HEADS THEREOF POSITIONED AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER, A LATCH MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID SHELLS IN CLOSED POSITION, ARMS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECTIONS, MEANS ON SAID ARMS FOR PIVOTALLY ENGAGING ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AT POINTS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE TO ONE ANOTHER AND A NINETY DE- 